A play by Ellis Charles Hoffmeister 2021 HB Playwrights Reading Series June 26, 2020 | 7:00PM Held online via Zoom HB Studio presents FAMILY GAMES A reading of the play by Ellis Charles Hoffmeister 2021 HB Playwrights Reading Series Saturday, 7:00 PM ET June 26, 2021 written by Ellis Charles Hoffmeister directed by Lisa Purrone with: Alan Altschuler* Charlie Coursey Richie Dang Amy Finkbeiner Haley Hoffmeisterf Gary Kahn Lucia Liss Teo Rapp-Olsson Talia Saraceno* stage directions by Tiffa Foster Edith Meeks, Executive & Artistic Director Sarah Chiriboga, Stage Manager Melisa Kucevic, Stage Manager *Member, Actors Equity Support for HB Studio's online programs is provided by the Noel Coward Foundation This program is supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and many generous supporters. HB Playwrights Reading Series Each year, HB Studio produces one week of staged readings of new full- length plays. Six plays each receive one evening for a staged reading, followed by a talk-back with the audience. The goal is to nurture the development of new plays, and provide a crucial step in the life of a new play that may not yet be ready for full production or performance. It is an opportunity for playwrights to see their work on its feet, collaborate with actors and directors, and share the work among peers and colleagues for feedback, mutual growth, and dialogue. This is an open opportunity; you do not have to be affiliated with HB Studio to apply. All original full-length plays are eligible, with preference given to works that have not received previous opportunities for readings or performance. Selections will be made by HB Studio’s Artistic Council. 2021 HB Playwrights Reading Series Performance Schedule Selected from an open call for submissions, the following six plays will each receive an evening for a public reading with audience feedback over Zoom, June 22-27, 2021. GOODBYE, LITTLE GEORGE by Fernando Vieira: June 22, 2021 | 7PM ET PATERSON by Ash Marinaccio: June 23, 2021 | 7PM ET SOUTH by Florencia Iriondo: June 24, 2021 | 7PM ET DATE WITH THE DEVIL by Carmen Burbridge: June 25, 2021 | 7PM ET FAMILY GAMES by Ellis Charles Hoffmeister: June 26, 2021 | 7PM ET THE ANGEL MANUAL by Sarah Congress: June 27, 2021 | 7PM ET Dear Friends, Welcome to the 2020 HB Playwrights Reading Series. We find ourselves in a moment of transition and rapid change, provoked by a public health emergency, with immeasurable implications for all aspects of our culture. Some pieces of our lives have held, others have fallen apart, and much will be forever changed. Especially in these times, we look to narrative to help guide and inspire our path forward. HB Studio's Artistic Council is pleased to share six selected works which explore a variety of relevant themes, such as identity, trauma, connection, and compassion—all which aim to spark dialogue across genres, cultures and beliefs. We’re excited by the range and depth of work represented. We thank you for joining us tonight to experience these plays in their infancy and help to nourish their development. If you can, please stay for a talkback at the end of the presentation. We’d love to hear your thoughts. Enjoy the show! Edith Meeks Executive & Artistic Director ABOUT THE ARTISTS Ellis Charles Hoffmeister (Playwright) Ellis Charles Hoffmeister is an actor, comedian, director, and now, playwright. He is incredibly thankful to everyone at HB Studio for everything they have taught him. He is honored to present his first play here today. Lisa Purrone (Director) Lisa Purrone is an actor-director from Staten Island that focuses on new play development. Most recently, Lisa's work was featured in Episode 13: Fulton Street of the MTA RADIO PLAYS produced by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. She is excited and grateful to work on FAMILY GAMES with this incredible team and cannot wait for real live rehearsal rooms again! Tiffa Foster (Stage Directions) Tiffa Foster was once semi-forced to pee next to a yak because she didn't heed her mother's advice to never pass up an opportunity to use the bathroom. The yak looked at her for a moment and then went back to eating as if this kind of stuff happened all the time. She also once hooked an alligator (not on purpose) while fishing when she was a child. The alligator was none too pleased, but it was more interested in Continued on next page ABOUT THE ARTISTS getting away than getting revenge. (She hopes.) She started writing plays and screenplays because she was sad and bored, and the next thing she knew she was happy and too busy. Alan Altschuler (Howard) Alan Altschuler is a lifelong New Yorker and has performed in numerous New York City theater productions, mostly recently playing Francis Nurse in the Bedlam Theatre Company’s hit Off-Broadway production of THE CRUCIBLE. Other favorite NYC stage roles include HAMLET (Polonius); A LIE OF THE MIND (Baylor); A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Oberon); GHOSTS (Pastor Manders); FESTEN (Helge), CRAZY LADY OF CHAILLOT (The President); UNCLE VANYA (Serebryakov); THE SEAGULL (Dr. Dorn); MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION (Rev. Samuel Gardner); MACBETH (King Duncan); and RHINOCEROS (Botard). Film performances include roles in PERFORMANCE; OFF HOUR; WORRY DOLLS and EARLY RELEASE, and TV roles on LAW & ORDER: SVU and THE ONION NEWS NETWORK. Alan is a founding board member of the Bedlam Theatre Company. He is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. Check out Alan’s website: alanaltschuler.com. ABOUT THE ARTISTS Charlie Coursey (Paul) Charlie Coursey is a New York based writer and performer. As an actor, he has performed with In the Water Theatre Company, Monsterpiece Theatre Collective, and The National Shakespeare Theatre of Brooklyn. He is a current Associate of The Wooster Group, and his play PROJECTS received a reading at the 2016 RADD festival. He received his BFA in Acting from Boston University. Richie Dang (Kyle) Richie Dang is a 2020 graduate of the Hagen Core Training program at HB Studio and an actor based in New York and Los Angeles. Amy Finkbeiner (Laura) Amy Finkbeiner is an interdisciplinary artist whose repertoire includes acting, writing, singing, performance art, and visual art. She has produced challenging work exploring sexuality, identity, and the power of collective action at numerous art venues nationally and internationally for 30 years. Currently, Finkbeiner is developing collaborative projects Continued on next page ABOUT THE ARTISTS in acting, screenwriting, and film. Originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and based in Brooklyn, she received a Master of Fine Arts from The School of Visual Arts in New York and studies acting at The William Esper Studio and HB Studio. Haley Hoffmeister (Kelly) Haley Hoffmeister is an actor, writer, and comic from Eugene, Oregon. She currently lives in Los Angeles. She can be seen on Amazon Prime in MY FIRST COMEDY SPECIAL. Her TEDx Talk is titled “Being a Woman is Not That Hard.” Gary Kahn (Leland) Gary Kahn is a writer, having completed a number of 10-minute and full-length plays, as well as a screenplay for a short film. Staged readings of his works have been presented at the HB Playwrights Theatre and the Helen Gallagher Studio Theatre. Gary has also performed as an actor in readings of various HB Studio student-written works. ABOUT THE ARTISTS Lucia Liss (Claire) Lucia Liss is a German-American actress currently based in New York City. She was raised by artists between Stuttgart, Germany and the San Francisco Bay Area, where she studied theatre at Mills College and the American Conservatory Theatre. Since graduating, she has primarily moved into film, recently starring in the award-winning short film WAY OUT. Teo Rapp-Olsson (Christian) Teo Rapp-Olsson is excited to be performing in FAMILY GAMES. Teo, a graduate of NYU: Tisch, is an actor/anxious person. While going to school for theatre, he has found most of his work on TV in shows such as: LAW & ORDER: SVU, BLUE BLOODS, DIVORCE, as well as numerous commercials and independent films. For more resume information and outdated photos check out teorappolsson.com. Talia Saraceno (Jane) Talia Saraceno was born and raised in Endicott, NY, a small town just west of Binghamton University and north of the Pennsylvania border. Her theatre work has primarily included lead roles in classic American plays (THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, THE CRUCIBLE, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, OUR TOWN, etc.). She also co- produced, co-directed, and co-starred in a two- Continued on next page ABOUT THE ARTISTS woman compilation of vignettes highlighting female strength and tenacity (SOMETHING UNSPOKEN, MARY OF SCOTLAND, AND UP, DOWN, STRANGE, CHARMED, BEAUTY, and TRUTH. She founded Transcend Theatre Group, a company dedicated to reading and performing under-produced plays. She choreographed a production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES as well as several independent works. She has studied with many artists/teachers in New York City, but most regularly works with Peter Jensen at T. Schreiber. She currently lives in NYC and works as an actor in both theatre and television/film. HB PUBLIC EVENTS Through free public events, including readings of new plays, performances, and public talks, we invite the community at large to share in a dialog about the range of efforts, intentions, and influences that drive theater HB ONLINE CLASSES artists in creating and producing their work. HB Studio offers a series of 5-week and 10-week online classes in: Acting Movement View upcoming events: Acting with the Camera Musical Theater and Singing hbstudio.eventbrite.com Actuar en Español Playwriting & Screenwriting Scene Study Acting for Young People Speech & Voice Teatro para Jóvenes Adolescentes THE UTA HB Studio offers a variety of short-term workshops.